Today’s 5-0 loss to the Red Sox dropped the Royals to a 52-44 record, and one game behind Boston for the third and final AL wild card slot. Playing .542 baseball is already an impressive move for a team that lost 106 games in 2023, yet Kansas City looks to overcome some recent struggles. The Royals started the season a hot 39–26, but have since fallen to a 13–18 mark in their last 31 games, and relief pitching has been a major reason behind this decline.
The KC bullpen ranked in the bottom third of baseball in most major categories, including 22nd in bullpen ERA (4.30). James McArthur Has converted 17 of 21 save opportunities, but has been somewhat shaky, and the Royals’ relief corps lacks both velocity and strikeout ability. Recent reports have revealed that Kansas City was considering the bullpen as a top need before the trade deadline, even before the Royals were in desperate need of an outfield upgrade.
Harvey and his 97.8 mph fastball provide some immediate high-leverage zip in the Royals’ pen, and Harvey also has an above-average strikeout and walk rate in his 45 innings this season out of Washington’s bullpen. While he has a 4.20 ERA, Harvey’s SIERA is 2.99, as a .325 BABIP has contributed to Harvey’s bottom-line results being an inadequate reflection of his quality pitching.
Selected 22nd overall by the Orioles in the 2013 draft, Harvey attracted the attention of top 100 prospects before various injuries threatened to halt his career before it had even begun. He had a 3.42 ERA in 23 2/3 innings and 26 appearances for Baltimore during the 2019–21 season, but the Giants claimed him on waivers in November 2021, and Harvey went to Washington on another waiver claim just before the start . 2022 campaign.
This time with the Nationals allowed Harvey to establish himself as a solid MLB-caliber arm, even if he flew under the radar during the team’s rebuild. Harvey has a 3.17 ERA, 27.8% strikeout rate, and 6.4% walk rate in 145 innings for DC, serving mostly as a setup man, but has 10 saves to his credit in 2023. Hard contact is a big red flag in Harvey’s arsenal, but he has done a pretty good job of preventing this hard contact from turning into a home run. A move to massive Kauffman Stadium could further help the 29-year-old Harvey in that regard.
Harvey is earning a $2.35MM salary this season in his second-last year of arbitration eligibility, so the Royals also have control over him through the end of the 2025 campaign. This extra year of control made Harvey a particularly interesting player to watch at the July 30 deadline, and both Harvey and the Nets moved closer. kyle finnegan (also controlled through 2025) made the top 15 of MLBTR’s recent Top 50 trade candidates list. Since teams typically have to pay a little extra to complete deals before the deadline, that factor plus Harvey’s extra year of control and perhaps the Royals’ eagerness to quickly fix their bullpen struggles combined. Gave a very good return to Washington.
The rebuilding Nationals remain a long way from the NL Wild Card race, but in today’s trade there is no doubt that the Nats will remain on their expected path as sellers heading toward the deadline. That doesn’t mean Washington can’t look for some players who can help them be competitive starting in 2025, and Wallace could potentially fit into that category, as he’s currently in Double-A ball. is in its second season.
A second-round pick by the Royals in the 2022 draft, Wallace is hitting .282/.350/.427 over 140 plate appearances for Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season, but is struggling with an oblique strain and walking. Because of both, his speed has slowed down. IL stint for broken rib. These injuries have slowed his development, but MLB Pipeline still rates Wallace as the second-best prospect in the Kansas City farm system, and Baseball America ranked him fifth in its preseason rankings of Royals minor leaguers. Is. Both scouting reports consider him to be a good defensive player with the ability to hold down at third base due to a strong throwing arm, and Wallace has good approach at the plate and a solid swing. He has more power potential than obvious power at this point, so Pipeline and BA see Wallace as a gap hitter with some upside as he develops.
Trading a “third baseman of the future” candidate like Wallace serves as an endorsement of the Royals’ confidence Maikel Garcia At least in the short term, even if Kansas City is now looking for some help at the hot corner down the road – perhaps as soon as tomorrow’s draft. As Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com noted, with the addition of Wallace, the Nationals have now given themselves considerable third base depth for the future. Brady House (Ranked as the 44th best prospect in baseball by Pipeline) and Yohandi Morales In the minor league ranks. This could be a potential surplus situation for the Nationals in the coming years if they return to contention and begin moving their internal prospects to more win-win veterans.
Competitive Balance Round selections are the only type of draft picks that can be traded, and as such they are some of the most valuable trade chips in all of baseball. Any team can trade for CBR picks, but since small-market and low-revenue teams are the only clubs eligible for these bonus selections, trades involving picks are relatively rare, given that through the draft. How is talent linked to? Special price for those who spend less on sports. Still, today’s trade marks the third CBR pick in change for the 2024 draft – the Brewers acquired the 34th overall pick from the Orioles. corbin burns trade, while the White Sox received the 68th overall pick (in CBR Round B) as part of the deal that sent gregory santos To the sailors.
The Royals made the sixth overall selection in yesterday’s draft, and will not select again until their second-round selection (41st overall). The Nationals now have three of the first 44 selections, with their newly acquired CBR selection sandwiched between their first and second round slots.
Anderson came to the Royals in a trade with the Braves last November, as Kansas City was interested in seeing if the former Rays bullpen ace could regain his form after three injury-plagued seasons. Over 34 2/3 innings for the Royals this season, Anderson had a 4.15 ERA and not much in the way of secondary metrics, as he posted a 10.1% walk rate and 18.1% strikeout rate.
Anderson is making $1.575MM this season, and he is ERB-controlled through 2025, which could add some attraction for any club interested in adding bullpen depth via a waiver claim. By virtue of being on the Royals’ active roster throughout the season, Anderson has now exceeded the five-year limit for MLB service time, and thus if he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, his entire 2024 salary will remain intact.
Discover more from news2source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
